Mr. Sunday Dare, the chief Initiator of DAD’s Foundation which was launched in Ogbomoso on Saturday has declared that the foundation is not for politics but to keep the memories of his late dad, David Ayoola Dare alive and continue his philanthropic gesture of helping the people.
Dare , a full time commissioner with the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC while fielding questions from journalists at the event held at his country home in Ogbomoso said, he is not using the event to launch himself into politics of Oyo state
According to him “Today’s program is a launching of foundation and a better way to also identify with Ogbomoso as a son of Ogbomoso, also as a stakeholder not just in social economic development of Ogbomoso but by extension the politics of Ogbomoso because without the political you cannot advance inthe social or the economic” ,
“ Launching of this foundation will gives opportunity to touch peoples life and help people, I think politics too is about helping people, when the times comes if I am really going to play politics it will be clear I am not using this as a decoy , I have been a politician I have served politicians I have helped built political institution so when the time come there won’t be a decoy, I will say it very clearly but this is about my father it is about Ogbomoso social political development and that is why it’s taking place not in Abuja Lagos but in my country home in Ogbomoso”
Speaking on Funding and sustaining the foundation, the international journalist said “Having be in journalism for 27 years I have made powerful friends and made powerful enemies, I am heavily networked and I know quite a number of them will support, , most of the fund will come from them, there is a board of trustee, there is a chairman, so the money doesn’t come to me it goes to the foundation so I hope to leverage on this network of friends, I will also sacrifice a part of my own resources to support the foundation” ,
He said further that Foundation had in January disbursed cash to 17 victims of Akande market fire incident and another set of traders will be given financial aides very soon , Also that a free medical program will hold in April and July respectively,
Some of the guests at the events including Hon Segun Dokun Odebunmi, Hon Segun Ogunwuyi, Hon Saheed Akinade Fijabi , members of the National Assembly and others who spoke at the event lauded s Sunday Dare for the decision to identify and assist his people
Odebunmi who is representing Surulere/Ogo Oluwa Federal Constituency at the National Assembly said “ Another leader has just been discovered in Ogbomoso, the gesture and plans of the foundation is a development that will commemorate what other people have been doing and encourage people to do more and that will aid the growth of community
Also Hon Saheed Fijabi chairman House of Reps Committee on Telecoms in his remarks also described the gesture as a right decision at a right time, people faces one challenges or the other and this is one of the way through which they can be assisted, I think he deserves to be commended and supported.
In her own remark, NCC’s director of legal service, Mrs Yetunde Akinloye noted that since Dare ”joined us about a year ago, he has changed many things. In the short time that he has joined us, he has made impact. I call him a slave driver. Anything he wants done, he will commit everything into it.”
Ogbomoso-born permanent secretary in the office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, who represented the latter, Mr. Segun Adeleke, described Dare as a rare breed, saying that “he never met but took up my matter. He informed Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and that was all. He made a success of it. It was done.
Corroborating others, Oyo State commissioner for youth and sports, Barr. Abayomi Oke, who also hails from the town, remarked that “I have known him for long but I met with Mr Dare last year when Crown FC was playing an home game. He complained about the state of the stadium. He called later that he was going to renovate the changing room and entrance. Within two months, he fulfiled the promise.”
A former spokesperson to late former governor Lamidi Adesina, Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan eulogised his friend of 30 years for the initiative, adding that ”He is a capable journalist. He combines many things with journalism. In the late 80s and 90s, he was number one in Abuja. I’m not surprised with this because he has always been known for assisting the less-privileged.
Mrs Grace Funke Balogun, who is the the first daughter of the late Pa Dare described his ‘only’ brother as “a supportive brother to his siblings.”
Son of former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, Olamiju who is the caretaker chairman of Ogbomoso North local government as well was full of praises for the initiator, saying the time has come for those with the wherewithal to effect meaningful change to join politics.
